Sri Lanka to boost MICE tourism afresh via Expo in September

SRI Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) has formally launched SL-MICE Expo 2025, a five-day showcase scheduled for 22-26 September, in Colombo, designed to cement Sri Lanka’s reputation as a value-for-money, experience-rich destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).

- BY TANIA DE SILVA

Speaking at a media conference at the Saffira Ballroom, Amari Colombo, senior government officials and industry leaders underscored the sector’s strategic weight: the MICE segment currently accounts for around 12% of total visitor arrivals. Since 2021, SLCB has delivered four editions of the Expo—moving from virtual to fully physical formats — and plans to scale both reach and commercial impact this year.

The SL-MICE Expo 2025, organised by SLCB under the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry, has already drawn significant global attention, with over 400 hosted buyer and media applications received from more than 25 countries. Out of these, 100 hosted buyers and 15 media representatives will be selected to participate. The five-day program will feature an opening plenary, a business forum, structured B2B meetings, and a themed gala dinner, complemented by post-Expo familiarisation (FAM) tours to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, showcasing Sri Lanka’s cultural and natural beauty. A key policy focus of this edition is to elevate the central region as a prime MICE proposition, highlighting its unique blend of heritage, scenic landscapes, and event infrastructure.